Terminal device having power saving mode and folding mechanism enabling open/close motion of the same

ABSTRACT

There is provided a terminal automatically executing access processing to a URL registered in advance on a network in response to the cancellation operation of the power saving mode. This enables to execute accessing the predetermined URL on the network only by the cancellation operation of the power saving mode without need of an extra operation for the processing. Also, in a terminal having a folding mechanism, predetermined processing is automatically executed in response to the open motion from the closed condition. This enables to execute the predetermined processing only by the open motion without need of an extra operation for the processing. Thus operability of the terminal is improve, and as a result, convenience for the user is improved.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal device which isconnectable to a network and has a power saving mode, and moreparticularly a terminal device which automatically executespredetermined processing (such as accessing the network) in response tocancellation of the power saving mode. The present invention alsorelates to a terminal device having a folding mechanism which enablesopen and close motion of the terminal device, and more particularly aterminal device which automatically executes predetermined processing inresponse to an open motion of the terminal device from a closedcondition thereof.

BACKGROUND ARTS

[0002] In a terminal device (for example, a personal computer) which isconnectable to a network for the purpose of using the Internet or theelectronic mail, there is generally provided a power saving mode. Thispower saving mode is a function of reducing power consumption bysuspending power supply to a predetermined device unit (display unit,memory, etc.) constituting computer equipment when there is no useroperation continued for a certain period. When any operation (forexample, operation by use of a mouse, a keyboard, etc.) is performed bythe user after the terminal device enters the power saving mode, thepower saving mode is cancelled and the terminal device is restored to anormal mode, that is, a mode before shifting to the power saving mode.

[0003] Accordingly, when the user wants to access a network such as theInternet using the terminal device which is already shifted to the powersaving mode, it is necessary for the user to perform a certain operationfor canceling the power saving mode once, and then activate a browserprogram or the like when any browser program or the like required foraccessing the network has not been activated. Furthermore, it isnecessary to input a desired URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

[0004] In such a way, various operations are required in order to makethe terminal device access the desired URL through the network. Thisproduces inconvenience to the user.

[0005] In addition, when using a terminal device such as a portabletelephone having a folding mechanism by which the terminal device bodycan be opened and closed, it is necessary to perform an operation(s) forexecuting predetermined processing, once after performing an open motionfrom a closed condition. This also produces inconvenience to the user.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea terminal device enabling to access a predetermined URL on a networkwhen restoring the operation mode from a power saving mode to a normalmode by a simpler operation than before.

[0007] Further, it is another object of the present invention to providea terminal (device) which automatically executes desired processing whenrestoring from a power saving mode to a normal mode by a simpleroperation than before.

[0008] Still further, in a terminal (device) having a folding mechanismby which the device can be opened and closed, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a terminal device which automaticallyexecutes desired processing at the time that the terminal deviceconcerned is shifted from a close condition to an open condition.

[0009] In order to attain the above-mentioned objects, the terminaldevice automatically performs access processing against a URL which isprovided on a network and registered in advance, in response to acancellation operation of the power saving mode. This enables to accessa predetermined URL on the network only by the cancellation operation ofthe power saving mode, which brings about improved convenience to theuser as well as improved operability of the terminal device.

[0010] Preferably, in accordance with the present invention to attainthe aforementioned objects, a terminal device having a power saving modein which the terminal device works with less power consumption than in anormal working mode is constituted of; a first display section in whichdisplay is turned off during the power saving mode, and the display isresumed when returning to the normal working mode; a storage sectionstoring at least one URL on a network; a second display section whichdisplays either the URL stored in the storage section or identificationinformation corresponding to the URL at least during the power savingmode; and an access processing section which performs access processingagainst either the URL displayed on the second display section or theURL corresponding to the identification information, in response to acancellation operation of the power saving mode. The access processingsection is realized by, for example, a firmware which is incorporated inthe second display section.

[0011] Preferably, depending on a URL type, the access processingsection activates an application program necessary for accessing theURL, and the application program makes access to the URL. For example,when the URL type is a type designating a Web page address on thenetwork, the access processing section activates a browser program.Also, when the URL type is a type designating an electronic mailaddress, the access processing section activates a mail program.

[0012] Preferably, the storage section stores either a URL which hasbeen accessed last time before shifting to the power saving mode, or anarbitrary URL according to an instruction by a user. Further, theterminal device according to the present invention may further include afirst operation section for selecting either the URL or theidentification information corresponding to the URL displayed on thesecond display section from the plurality of URLs when the storagesection stores a plurality of URLs.

[0013] Further, in the above-mentioned configuration of the terminaldevice according to the present invention, the first display section ismounted so as to be opened and closed against a main body of theterminal device, and the second display section is disposed in a visibleposition when the first display section is placed in a closed condition.Moreover, preferably, the terminal device according to the presentinvention may further include a second operation section for use incanceling the power saving mode, which is disposed in an operableposition while the first display section is placed in the closedcondition. Also, the terminal device may include a drive sectionenabling to open the first display section which is closed in the powersaving mode, in response to the cancellation operation of the powersaving mode.

[0014] Further, the terminal device in accordance with the presentinvention to attain the aforementioned objects is a terminal devicehaving a normal working state and a standby state. The terminal deviceincludes a display section which can display information in the standbystate, and a processing section which performs processing correspondingto the information being displayed on the display section at the time ofshifting from the standby state to the normal working state.

[0015] Still further, the aforementioned terminal device includes a maindisplay section the display contents of which are placed in a visiblecondition in the normal working state, or in an invisible condition inthe standby state, and a detection section which detects an operationfor shifting the display contents of the main display section from theinvisible condition to the visible condition. The display section is asubordinate display section the display contents of which are placed inthe visible condition even when the main display section is placed inthe invisible condition. The processing section performs processingcorresponding to the information which has been displayed on thesubordinate display section at the time the operation is detected.

[0016] For example, the normal working state is a normal working mode inwhich the main display section is placed in a display condition, and thestandby state is a power saving mode in which the main display sectionis placed in a non-display condition and the device works with lesspower consumption than in the normal working mode, and the detectionsection detects a shift from the power saving mode to the normal workingmode.

[0017] As an example, in a terminal (device) having a folding mechanismby which the terminal (device) can be opened and closed, the maindisplay section is disposed in a position in which the display contentsof the main display section are visible when the folding mechanism isplaced in an open condition, while the display contents of the maindisplay section are invisible when the folding mechanism is placed in aclose condition. The display section is a subordinate display sectiondisposed in a position in which the display contents of the subordinatedisplay section are visible even when the folding mechanism is placed inthe closed condition. The detection section detects an open motion ofthe folding mechanism from the closed condition.

[0018] In the embodiment of the present invention which will bedescribed later, as a terminal device having a normal working state anda standby state, there is exemplified a personal computer having anormal mode (which corresponds to the normal working state) and a powersaving mode (which corresponds to the standby state), as well asa-portable telephone having a folding mechanism by which the portabletelephone can be opened and closed (in which an open conditioncorresponds to the normal working state, and a close conditioncorresponds to the standby state).

[0019] In the example of the personal computer in accordance with theembodiment described later, the visible condition in the normal workingstate represents a condition in which information is displayed on a maindisplay section in the normal working mode, while the invisiblecondition in the standby state represents a condition in whichinformation is not displayed on the main display section in the powersaving mode.

[0020] Also, in the example of the portable telephone, the visiblecondition in the normal working state represents a condition in whichthe main display section can be viewed by placing the folding mechanismin an open condition, and the invisible condition in the standby staterepresents a condition in which the main display section cannot beviewed by placing the folding mechanism in a close condition.

[0021] It is to be noted that the normal working state and the standbystate are neither limited to the normal mode and the power saving mode,nor to the open condition and the close condition described above. Itmay also be possible to apply any other two states than theabove-mentioned modes or conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show diagrams illustrating an outline ofthe network access processing in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0023]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary block configuration of a terminal devicein accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a BIOS setting import processing atthe time of system activation.

[0025]FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of processing for shifting to a powersaving mode and for canceling the power saving mode.

[0026]FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a first accessing processing to a URLat the time of power saving mode cancellation.

[0027]FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a second accessing processing to aURL at the time of power saving mode cancellation.

[0028]FIG. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating URL selection and displayprocessing.

[0029]FIG. 13 shows an exemplary URL data configuration stored in a URLmemory 124.

[0030]FIG. 14 shows a display example on a subordinate display section120.

[0031]FIG. 15 shows an exemplary mounting structure of subordinatedisplay section 120, etc.

[0032]FIG. 16 shows a diagram illustrating the setting of a patrol routeby an automatic patrol program.

[0033]FIG. 17 shows a diagram illustrating the setting of patrol time bythe automatic patrol program.

[0034]FIG. 18 shows a diagram illustrating an example of patrolinformation.

[0035]FIG. 19 shows a processing flowchart of the automatic patrolprogram.

[0036]FIG. 20 shows a diagram illustrating update history information.

[0037]FIG. 21 shows a diagram illustrating an exemplary display of a URLfor an updated Web page on subordinate display section 120.

[0038]FIG. 22 shows a diagram explaining setting of an electronic mailaddress.

[0039]FIG. 23 shows a diagram illustrating a display example of anelectronic mail address (URL) on subordinate display section 120.

[0040]FIG. 24 shows a diagram explaining URL display control againstsubordinate display section 120.

[0041]FIG. 25 shows a diagram illustrating an example of outer view of afoldable portable telephone.

[0042]FIG. 26 shows a diagram illustrating a detection mechanismdetecting an open/close condition of a portable telephone 20.

[0043]FIG. 27 shows a block diagram schematically illustrating oneexample of a hardware configuration of portable telephone 20.

[0044]FIG. 28 shows a first processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]FIG. 29 shows display examples of an object record title (a), or aURL (b) on a subordinate display unit 23.

[0046]FIG. 30 shows a display example of a Web page on a main displayunit 21.

[0047]FIG. 31 shows a second processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0048]FIG. 32 shows display examples of an object record name (a), or amail address (b) on subordinate display unit 23.

[0049]FIG. 33 shows a display example of a mail creation screen on maindisplay unit 21.

[0050]FIG. 34 shows a third processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0051]FIG. 35 shows display examples of a sender's name of an objectmail on subordinate display unit 23.

[0052]FIG. 36 shows a display example of a reception mail display screenon main display unit 21.

[0053]FIG. 37 shows a processing flowchart in the portable telephone inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0054]FIG. 38 shows a display example of an object record name onsubordinate display unit 23.

[0055]FIG. 39 shows a display example on main display unit 21.

[0056]FIG. 40 shows a fifth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0057]FIG. 41 shows a sixth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0058]FIG. 42 shows a seventh processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0059]FIG. 43 shows a display example of ah object record name onsubordinate display unit 23.

[0060]FIG. 44 shows a display example on main display unit 21.

[0061]FIG. 45 shows an eighth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0062]FIG. 46 shows a display example of an object record name onsubordinate display unit 23.

[0063]FIG. 47 shows a display example on main display unit 21.

[0064]FIG. 48 shows a ninth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0065]FIG. 49 shows a display example of menu item name of an objectrecord, which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23.

[0066]FIG. 50 shows a display example on main display unit 21.

[0067]FIG. 51 shows a tenth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0068]FIG. 52 shows a display example of an object record name onsubordinate display unit 23.

[0069]FIG. 53 shows a display example on main display unit 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0070] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are describedhereinafter referring to the charts and drawings. However, it is to benoted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described below.

[0071] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a terminaldevice executes access processing to a URL on a network, which isregistered in advance, in response to a cancellation operation of apower saving mode. Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present inventionwill be illustrated by exemplifying a notebook personal computer as aterminal device, which is provided with a main display section and asubordinate display section. Here, the main display section is a displaysection of comparatively large screen size (such as a liquid crystaldisplay unit and a CRT display unit), on which display screen contentsgenerated (or obtained) by a browsing program or other applicationprograms are displayed. Display on the main display section is turnedoff during the power saving mode, and the display is resumed to turn onwhen returning to the normal mode. In contrast, the subordinate displaysection is a display section of comparatively small display size onwhich a remaining battery capacity, access conditions to variousdevices, etc. are displayed. Most of the subordinate display sectionsmounted on notebook personal computers are formed of liquid crystaldisplay units.

[0072]FIGS. 1 through 6 show diagrams illustrating an outline of networkaccess processing in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 1, there is activated an application program (such asa spreadsheet program) other than an application program for networkaccess (browser). Inside the notebook personal computer, a variety ofdevices such as a CPU, a memory and a hard disk drive (which are notshown) are housed. Also, a keyboard is disposed on a main body of thenotebook personal computer. The main display section is attached on amain body of the personal computer in such a way that the main displaysection can be opened or closed against the main body. While the maindisplay section is closed against the main body, a user of the notebookpersonal computer is neither able to look at a screen of the maindisplay section, nor to operate the keyboard. In addition, an externalinput device such as a mouse may be connected onto the main body of thenotebook personal computer.

[0073] During a condition of a predetermined application program beingactivated, when the notebook personal computer is shifted to the powersaving mode, a display screen of the main display section is turned off,as depicted in FIG. 2. In addition, at this time, the main displaysection may also be closed, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0074] Even in the power saving mode, display on the subordinate displaysection of the notebook personal computer is not turned off, and apredetermined URL is displayed thereupon, as shown in FIG. 4. Here, itis also possible to configure such that a URL to be displayed on thesubordinate display section is altered when a predetermined operation isperformed. Thereafter, the power saving mode is canceled. Thecancellation of the power saving mode is enabled, for example, bydepressing a predetermined switch which is operable even when the maindisplay section is closed, or depressing a key on the keyboard when themain display section is open, or operating the mouse. Here, as shown inFIG. 5, when the main display section is closed, the main displaysection is opened again. It may also be possible to configure such thatthe power saving mode is canceled in response to an open motion of themain display section. In such a configuration, there is provided aswitch which responds to the open/close motion of the main displaysection, and thereby the open/close motion of the main display sectioncan be detected when the switch is turned on and off.

[0075] According to the embodiment of the present-invention, in responseto the cancellation of the power saving mode, a program for accessingthe URL designated in the subordinate display section is automaticallyactivated, as shown in FIG. 6. For example, when the URL indicates anelectronic mail address, an electronic mail transmission/receptionprogram is automatically activated, or when the URL indicates a Web(World Wide Web) address in the Internet, a browser program isautomatically activated. Such a program then accesses the designatedURL, and a screen corresponding to the designated URL is displayed onthe main display section.

[0076] In such away, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the terminal device automatically accesses the URL displayedon the subordinate display section, on restoration from the power savingmode to the normal mode. Thus, it becomes possible to simplifyoperations performed by the user. The embodiment of the presentinvention will be illustrated more specifically in the followingdescription.

[0077]FIG. 7 shows a diagram illustrating an exemplary blockconfiguration in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG.7, the terminal device provides a CPU 110 whichexecutes the OS (operating system) and a variety of application programsstored in a main storage section (hard disk drive, or HDD) 112. A maindisplay section (liquid crystal display unit) 114 displays informationcorresponding to an application program which is executed based on anormal operation by a user. Further, an input section 116 is constitutedof a keyboard, a mouse, etc. When there has been no predeterminedoperation against input section 116 for a certain period, CPU 110 isshifted from the normal mode to the power saving mode.

[0078] A BIOS (Basic Input Output System) memory 118 is a memory storingthe BIOS. Setting information related to the power saving mode, such asa designation to enable or disable the power saving mode, a time untilstarting the transition to the power saving mode, is stored in this BIOSmemory.

[0079] As mentioned earlier, a subordinate display section 120 is adisplay section of comparatively small size, which displays informationof a remaining battery capacity in the terminal device, conditions ofaccessing a variety of devices, and the like. According to theembodiment of the present invention, there is displayed on subordinatedisplay section 120 a URL to be automatically accessed at the time ofrestoring from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Further, insubordinate display section 120, there are incorporated a program(s)(firmware) which enables processing function(s) required for theembodiment of the present invention, and a processor which executes sucha program.

[0080] Further, an auxiliary operation section 122 is provided with, forexample, a selection key, an execution key, etc. The selection key is akey for selecting one of a plurality of items which can be displayed onsubordinate display section 120, as well as displaying the selecteditem. The selection key is exemplarily constituted of a jog dial. Thejog dial has a wheel, and a display item can be altered by rotating thewheel. Also, by depressing the wheel, the display content beingdisplayed at the moment can be selected. Such a selection key is notonly limited to a single jog dial. For example, the selection key mayalso be constituted of a plurality of buttons, such as buttons forproceeding to the next item, returning to the previous item, fixing onthe current item, scrolling right, and scrolling left. Further,subordinate display section 120 may also include a touch panel function.An operation identical to a selection key operation may be effected whenthe user touches an area displayed as a selection key area onsubordinate display section 120.

[0081] When there is a single display item only to be displayed, theselection key is no need to operate, needless to say. Next, theexecution key is a key for terminating the power saving mode, activatinga predetermined application program, and accessing the URL displayed onsubordinate display section 120. The execution key is disposed in such aposition as is operable even when the main display section is in theclosed condition. This enables to execute the processing in theembodiment of the present invention, even when the keyboard is notoperable because the main display section is closed, or the mouse is notconnected. Needless to say, it may also be possible to cancel the powersaving mode by operating the keyboard or the mouse. In addition, it mayalso be possible to provide the selection key and the execution keyindependently, or otherwise, adopt other operation means (for example, ajog dial) to be commonly used for the functions of the selection key andthe execution key.

[0082] Moreover, a URL memory 124 is a storage means, in which a URL tobe displayed on subordinate display section 120 is stored. In thismemory, there are stored a history of the URLs accessed in the past, anda URL either selected or input by a predetermined means. As URL memory124, a portion of an area in the hard disk drive (HDD) may be allocated,or a nonvolatile memory may be mounted separately.

[0083] The terminal device in accordance with the present invention hasthe following functions: (1) Importing the BIOS setting at the time ofthe system activation, (2) shifting to the power saving mode, (3)accessing a URL at the time of canceling the power saving mode, and (4)selecting and displaying a URL at the time of the normal mode and thepower saving mode. Each function will be illustrated further in thefollowing description.

[0084]FIG. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating the BIOS setting importingprocessing performed at the time of the system activation. Thisprocessing is carried out under the OS. In FIG. 8, the OS is activatedwhen the power is switched on (step S11). The OS reads out from BIOSmemory 118 information related to the power saving mode, which includesa power saving mode enable flag, and time information indicating a timeuntil shifting to the power saving mode (S12). This information is thenstored into a storage area (in HDD, main memory, or the like) managed bythe OS, which is referred to as an OS management area (S13). In such away, the OS obtains the information related to the power saving mode inadvance, and stores the information into the OS management area, thus itbecomes possible for the OS to perform transition processing to thepower saving mode.

[0085]FIG. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating the transition processing tothe power saving mode. This processing is also executed under the OS.First, the OS monitors whether or not there is any input received fromthe input section such as the keyboard or the mouse (S21), and measuresan interval between the inputs by use of a system timer provided in theterminal device. When there is an input before the time preset in thetimer expires (S22), the OS resets the system timer (S23) and starts thetime measurement afresh. When the preset time has elapsed without anyinput (S22), the terminal device is shifted to the power saving mode(S24). More specifically, a power supply control against each device inthe terminal device is shifted to the BIOS, and the BIOS suspends tosupply the power to the predetermined units (such as HDD and CPU) in theterminal device.

[0086]FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a first access processing to a URL atthe time of canceling the power saving mode. This processing is executedby the firmware provided in subordinate display section 120. In thepower saving mode, the firmware of subordinate display section 120monitors whether or not there is any input received from either inputsection 116, such as the keyboard or the mouse, or auxiliary operationsection 122 (S31). When an input is detected, the firmware notifies theBIOS of this detection. This produces the power supply control to shiftfrom the BIOS to the OS, and the OS resumes the power supply to theunits to which the power supply has been suspended. Thus, the powersaving mode is canceled (S32). Thereafter, the OS obtains the URLdisplayed on the subordinate display section 120 (S33), and checkswhether or not an application program necessary for accessing the URLhas already been activated (S34). When such an application program hasnot been activated yet, the OS activates the application program (S35),and reports the URL to the application program concerned (S36).Consequently, the terminal device is resumed to the normal mode, and theapplication program having been activated in the normal mode startsaccessing to the URL which was received.

[0087] In the above process, the firmware provided in subordinatedisplay section 120 selects an application program to be activated inaccordance with a format of the URL. For example, if the URL has aformat of ‘http:// . . . ’, this URL denotes a Web page address, andaccordingly, a browser application program is selected. If the URL has aformat of ‘mailto: . . . ’, this URL denotes an electronic mail address,and accordingly, an application program for the electronic mail isselected. Or, if the URL has a format of ‘ftp:// . . . ’, an applicationprogram for the file transfer protocol (FTP) is selected. Here, when thebrowser application program was selected corresponding to the URLformat, the browser application program is instructed to obtain anddisplay a Web page denoted by the URL concerned. When the electronicmail application program was selected corresponding to the URL format,the electronic mail application program is instructed to generate anelectronic mail, which is addressed to a mail address denoted by the URLconcerned. Also, when the FTP application program was selectedcorresponding to the URL format, the FTP application program isinstructed to download a file denoted by the URL concerned. In addition,generally, a URL having the ‘http:// . . . ’ format is the URL by whicha browser application program is to be selected. However, depending on afile to be accessed by the URL concerned, there may be required otherapplication programs oriented for each purpose, such as playing MIDIdata, regenerating other voice data, and regenerating moving images. Insuch cases, it is possible to employ application programs prepared forrespective purposes,. Information on which application program isrequired is obtained from the settings of the browser applicationprogram.

[0088] The transition processing to the power saving mode or thecancellation processing therefrom is not limited to the processing shownin FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0089] For example, it may be possible to provide a switch which detectsan open condition or a close condition of the display unit (main displaysection 114), and configure the terminal device so as to shift to thepower saving mode when the above-mentioned switch detects a close motionof the display unit shifted from the open condition. It is also possibleto configure the terminal device in such a way that the power savingmode is canceled when the above-mentioned switch detects an open motionof the display unit shifted from the closed condition.

[0090] According to the above-mentioned configuration in which the openoperation of the display unit initiates the cancellation of the powersaving mode, the information which the user desires can be displayed onsubordinate display section 120 when the display unit is placed in theclosed condition, and with a simple operation of opening the displayunit, it becomes possible to execute processing related to theinformation displayed on subordinate display section 120 (i.e.processing of displaying information on main display section 114). Thus,it becomes possible to attain more convenience to the user.

[0091] Here, similar structure to that shown in FIG. 26 illustratedlater may be used as a switch for detecting the open condition and theclose condition of the display unit.

[0092] Also, it may be possible to configure such that the main displaysection is automatically opened when the power saving mode is canceledwhile the main display section is placed in the closed condition. Forthis purpose, the terminal device may incorporate a drive means such asa motor so as to open the main display section automatically. Inresponse to the cancellation of the power saving mode, the firmware insubordinate display section 120 opens the main display section to anappropriate preset angle against the main body by driving the motor,when the main display section is placed in a closed condition.

[0093]FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a second access processing to a URLat the time of canceling the power saving mode, in which identicalreference numbers are respectively assigned to the processes which areidentical to those shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 11, the firmware insubordinate display section 120 monitors whether or not there is anyinput from either input section 116 or auxiliary operation section 24(S31). When an input is detected, the power saving mode is canceled(S32).

[0094] Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the main display sectionis closed (S32-1). When the main display section is closed, the body isopened to a predetermined angle by driving the drive means (S32-2). Theinformation related to the URL displayed on subordinate display section120 is obtained (S33), and it is checked whether an application programnecessary for accessing the URL of interest has already been activated(S34). When the application program is not activated yet, the program ofinterest is activated (S35), and the URL is informed to the applicationprogram of interest (S36). Thus, the terminal device is restored to thenormal mode, and the application program being activated in the normalmode starts to access the received URL.

[0095] Depending on the URL accessed, a voice data file (for example, afile having the MP3 format may possibly be designated. In such a case,only an application program for voice data regeneration may be activatedso as to regenerate the voice data file concerned, neither opening themain display section nor activating the browser application program.Accordingly, the main display section is not opened when any fileunnecessary for opening the main display section is specified. Thus,convenience to the user can be attained.

[0096]FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of URL selection and display processing.This processing is performed by the firmware in subordinate displaysection 120. In addition, this processing is performed irrespective ofunder the normal mode or the power saving mode. The firmware insubordinate display section 120 monitors whether or not an interruptioninput for URL selection exists (S40). More specifically, the firmwaremonitors whether or not an operation of the selection key (jog dial) inauxiliary operation section 122 is performed. On detection of theoperation of the jog dial, URLs stored adjacent (previous or next) tothe currently displayed URL among a plurality of URLs, which arereserved in order in URL memory 124, are successively selected anddisplayed (S41). The selection of either forward or backward directionis determined by the rotation direction of the jog dial.

[0097] Now, exemplary methods of storing a URL into URL memory 124 aredescribed in the following. In order to store a URL into URL memory 124,the following methods may be considered: (1) The firmware provided insubordinate display section 120 monitors URL which are output fromapplication programs such as a browser (which is exemplified in thefollowing description), obtains the output URL, and stores the URL intoURL memory 124. (2) A URL storing menu is provided in the browser, andbased on a menu selection operation by the user, the browser stores atleast one URL either input or selected on the browser into URL memory124. (3) By means of an add-in function provided in the browser, thebrowser automatically stores at least one URL determined on the browserinto URL memory 124. (4) Another menu storing URLs is provided in thebrowser, and based on a menu selection operation, at least one URLdescribed in the currently displayed Web page is collectively storedinto URL memory 124.

[0098] In case of above-mentioned (1), URL memory 124 stores at leastthe URL having been accessed last time before the transition to thepower saving mode. Further, it may also be possible to display the URLof interest on subordinate display section 120 at the initial setting.If URL memory 124 stores a predetermined number of URLs having beenaccessed in the past, it may also be possible to set in the initialsetting so as to display the last URL having been accessed before thetransition to the power saving mode. By use of the aforementionedselection key, any of other URLs may be selected. Further, in case of(4), the browser analyzes the Web page and extracts a URL described inthe Web page.

[0099]FIG. 13 shows an exemplary configuration of a URL data stored inURL memory 124. The URL data is constituted of an identification number(sequence number), a URL and display contents (identificationinformation) corresponding thereto.

[0100]FIG. 14 shows a display example on subordinate display section120. In FIG. 14(a), an Internet Web page address (URL) is displayed inaddition to the battery charge condition and the mounted condition of anoptical disk such as a CD-ROM. Or, it may also be possible to display atitle (the above-mentioned identification information) attached to theURL in place of the URL itself, as shown in FIG. 14(b). When a title isassigned in advance on the Web page data (HTML file) corresponding tothe URL, this title may be used, or otherwise, an arbitrary title may beset by the user. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14(c), it may also bepossible to provide a touch panel function in subordinate displaysection 120, on which auxiliary operation section 122 (including anexecution button and a selection button) is displayed.

[0101]FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary mounting structureof subordinate display section 120 and the like. As shown in FIG. 15(a),preferably, subordinate display section 120 is mounted in such aposition as can be viewed by the user even when the main display sectionis placed in the closed condition. This is because the main displaysection is possibly closed in the power saving mode. Further,preferably, auxiliary operation section 122 is also mounted in such aposition as is operable by the user even when the main display sectionis closed. Or, as shown in FIG. 15(b), it may also be possible todispose subordinate display section 120, auxiliary operation section 122and URL memory 124 separately as independent units. In this case, theaforementioned processing and operation is achieved by connecting theseexternal independent units to the notebook personal computer. Moreover,as shown in FIG. 15(c), the functions of subordinate display section 120and auxiliary operation section 122 may also be attained by use of aportable telephone. By use of a communication program conforming to apredetermined communication standard, it is possible to utilize a screenof the portable telephone functioning as subordinate display section120, as well as dial buttons of the portable telephone functioning asauxiliary operation section 122. Further, a storing medium incorporatedin the portable telephone is used as URL memory 124.

[0102] [Other Embodiments]

[0103] Hereafter, other embodiments of the present invention will beillustrated. In accordance with an additional embodiment, a function ofautomatically patrolling Web pages detects an updated Web page, andstored this detected Web page into URL memory 124. A URL of the updatedWeb page having been detected is displayed on subordinate displaysection 120. In response to a cancellation operation of the power savingmode, an application program corresponding to this URL (in this case, abrowser program) is activated and the processing which makes access tothe URL concerned is performed.

[0104]FIG. 16 shows a diagram illustrating the setting of a patrol routeby an automatic patrol program. In the normal mode, the user sets thepatrol route against the patrol program. The patrol route is set eitherby an external input from the user, or by an import input of the URLhaving been registered in advance in the ‘Favorites’ of the browserprogram. FIG. 16(a) shows an exemplary screen for setting the automaticpatrol route. FIG. 16(b) shows an exemplary screen for inputting URLsfrom the user by the use of the input means such as the keyboard. Also,FIG. 16(c) shows an exemplary screen for importing URLs from the‘Favorites’ of the browser.

[0105]FIG. 17 shows a diagram illustrating the setting of patrol timesset by the automatic patrol program. In the normal mode, the user setspatrol time against the automatic patrol program. In FIG. 17, anexemplary screen for setting the patrol times, in which, for example,two times (namely, twice per day) can be set.

[0106]FIG. 18 shows a diagram illustrating an example of the patrolinformation. The automatic patrol program reserves the patrolinformation having been set in the aforementioned manner into thestorage unit (such as the hard disk drive) of the terminal device. Thepatrol information includes patrol times and at least one URLconstituting the patrol route, as shown in the figure.

[0107]FIG. 19 shows a processing flowchart of the automatic patrolprogram. On activation of the OS, the automatic patrol program isautomatically activated. First, the automatic patrol program refers tothe patrol information and obtains the patrol time (S50), and sets atimer up to the patrol time based on the current time (S51). When thetime reaches the patrol time having been set in the timer (S52), theautomatic patrol program obtains URLs to be patrolled by referring tothe patrol information (S53). The automatic patrol program thenactivates the browser program, accesses each URL having been obtained,and thus obtains an update time (updated, or generated, date and time)of each Web page corresponding to the URL (S54). The update time iscontained as one of the header information set of an HTML fileconstituting the Web page. When the update time of the Web page isobtained for each URL, the automatic patrol program compares the timewith an update time of each Web page having been registered in updatehistory information (S55).

[0108] Here, the determination of whether the Web page is updated is notlimited to the above-mentioned processing.

[0109] For example, as described later, it may also be possible to checkwhether the Web page is updated by comparing the contents of the Webpage having been reserved before with the contents of the Web pageobtained this time. When these contents are different, it is determinedthe update has been performed. In this case, the date/time of havingobtained the Web page may be regarded as the updated date/time of theWeb page.

[0110]FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the update history information.This update history information is a database in which the latest updatetime is registered on a URL-by-URL basis. The update history informationis generated by the automatic patrol program and reserved in the storageunit (such as the hard disk drive) of the terminal device. The updatehistory information also includes store location information in thestorage unit in which a duplicated Web page is reserved, as describedlater.

[0111] Referring back to FIG. 19, when comparing-the update times, ifthe update time obtained from the accessed Web page is newer than theupdate time of the Web page concerned having been registered in theupdate history information, the automatic patrol program duplicates theWeb page concerned and reserves this duplicated Web page into a storelocation designated in the update history information (S56). Also, theautomatic patrol program updates the update time in the update historyinformation (S57).

[0112] Further, the automatic patrol program adds into URL memory 124the URL of the updated Web page, corresponding display contents(identification information such as a Web page title), etc., so as todisplay on subordinate display section 120 (S58).

[0113]FIG. 21 shows a diagram illustrating a display example of the URLof the updated Web page on subordinate display section 120. In FIG. 21,there is shown a case of detecting the update of Web pages correspondingto two URLs having, for example, http://www.fajitas.com andhttp://www.fmwarld.net. In FIG. 21(a), the former URL is displayed.Also, in FIG. 21(b), the latter URL is displayed. By use of scrollbuttons (‘Previous’ and ‘Next’) designated on subordinate displaysection 120, these displays can be altered.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 21, the terminal device is provided withoperation buttons related to the information displayed on subordinatedisplay section 120, which include the scroll buttons mentioned above,an execution button (‘Open’ shown in FIG. 21), etc. It is also possibleto cancel the power saving mode initiated by the operation of thisexecution button. Namely, as shown in FIG. 21(c), when the executionbutton is operated, the power saving mode is canceled. At the same time,an application program corresponding to the information displayed onsubordinate display section 120 is activated. In this example, thebrowser program is activated, the URL currently displayed is accessed,and the Web page corresponding to the URL is displayed on the maindisplay section.

[0115] Also, as described earlier, it may also be possible to display anelectronic mail address on subordinate display section 120 (electronicmail address is also a kind of URL). According to this method, when thepower saving mode is canceled while the electronic mail address isdisplayed, the electronic mail program is activated. Then the electronicmail program displays a screen for editing the electronic mail to besent to the electronic mail address of interest.

[0116]FIG. 22 shows a diagram illustrating the setting of the electronicmail address. In the normal mode, the user sets the electronic mailaddress against a predetermined utility program for setting theelectronic mail address.

[0117]FIG. 23 shows a diagram illustrating a display example of theelectronic mail address (URL) on subordinate display section 120. When aplurality of electronic mail addresses are registered, a display of anelectronic mail address can be altered to other electronic mail addressby operating the scroll buttons (‘Previous’ and ‘Next’) designated bysubordinate display section 120, as shown in FIGS. 23(a) and 23(b).

[0118] As shown in FIG. 23(c), when the execution button is operated,the power saving mode is canceled. At the same time, an applicationprogram corresponding to the information displayed on subordinatedisplay section 120 is activated. In this example, the electronic mailprogram is activated, and an edit screen for editing the electronic mailto be addressed to the currently displayed electronic mail address isdisplayed on main display section 114.

[0119] Here, instead of displaying the electronic mail editing screen,information necessary for identifying each mail of new arrival may bedisplayed on subordinate display section 120 during the power savingmode. When the cancellation operation of the power saving mode isperformed, detailed contents of the new electronic mail corresponding tothe mail having been displayed on subordinate display section 120 may bedisplayed on main display section 114 by the electronic mail program.Here, as information for identifying each mail, there may be applicablea title, an electronic mail address, a sender's name (which is eitherextracted from ‘From . . . ’ included in the header information of thenew mail, or searched from an electronic mail address book by use of themail address included in the ‘From . . . ’), or text contents. Thedetailed processing is the same as the processing described later withrespect to a foldable terminal device. The description is thereforeomitted here.

[0120]FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the URL display control againstsubordinate display section 120. The URLs are registered as display datainto a display data table 55 in URL memory 124 by the automatic patrolprogram and the utility program for setting electronic mail addressesprovided in the application layer, through a display data registrationinterface provided in the subordinate display section control layer.

[0121] In the power saving mode, a power saving mode monitor section 50provided in subordinate display section control layer detects thecancellation operation of the power saving mode. This cancellationoperation is, for example, an operation of opening a lid of the notebookpersonal computer, an operation of the mouse or the keyboard, or adepression of the execution button among the operation buttons 60. Ondetection of such a cancellation operation, the power saving mode iscanceled.

[0122] When the depression of the operation button 60 in a hardwarelayer is detected, a button controller 51 reports type information ofthe depressed button among operation buttons 60 to power saving modemonitor section 50, and also executes a processing corresponding to thedepressed operation button.

[0123] On detection of a depression of a display selection button(scroll button) in operation buttons 60, button controller 51 obtains adisplay data corresponding to the operation from display data table 55,and reports this data to a display controller 52 as a request fordisplay (including the identification number shown in FIG. 13). Displaycontroller 52 displays the URL corresponding to the identificationnumber on subordinate display section 120. Power saving mode monitorsection 50 does not cancel the power saving mode even when receiving thenotification on the depression of the display selection button frombutton controller 51.

[0124] When the execution button is depressed, button controller 51notifies power saving mode monitor section 50 that the execution buttonwas depressed. On reception of the notification of the execution button,power saving mode monitor section 50 cancels the power saving mode.Further, power saving mode monitor section 50 obtains from display datatable 55 a URL corresponding to the display data displayed onsubordinate display section 120, and activates an application programcorresponding to the obtained URL. For example, when the URL is a Webpage address, the browser program is activated, or when the URL is anelectronic mail address, the electronic mail program is activated. Thetype of URL can be obtained by analyzing the URL format, as mentionedearlier.

[0125] The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to applyto a computer terminal such as a notebook personal computer. Forexample, the embodiment is also applicable to a terminal such as aportable telephone having a main display unit and a subordinate displayunit.

[0126] Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, inaddition to a above-mentioned terminal which executes processingcorresponding to the information displayed on the subordinate displaysection in response to the cancellation of the power saving mode, thefollowing terminal is exemplified, as clarified below. Namely, there isexemplified a terminal device such as a notebook personal computer and afoldable portable telephone having both a subordinate display unit(subordinate display section) and a rear face key on the rear face,which is provided with a folding mechanism by which the body can beopened and closed only the subordinate display unit screen can be viewedin the closed condition. In response to the open motion of the foldingmechanism from the closed condition, there is executed a processingcorresponding to the information displayed on the subordinate displayunit.

[0127] As one example, the foldable portable telephone having thesubordinate display unit and the rear face key on the rear face isdescribed in the following.

[0128]FIG. 25 shows a diagram illustrating an exemplary outer view ofthe foldable portable telephone. FIG. 25(a) is an outer view of thefoldable portable telephone in the open condition. Also, FIG. 25(b) isan outer view of the foldable portable telephone in the closedcondition.

[0129] A portable telephone 20 is provided with an operation sectionside 26 constituted of a main operation section 25 having a plurality ofkey buttons 24, and a display section side 28 constituted of a maindisplay unit (main LCD) 21 which is able to swing (foldable) via a swingaxis section 27 disposed on an end portion of the above-mentionedoperation section side 26. In the open condition of portable telephone20, operation section 25 is operable and also main display unit (maindisplay section) 21 can be viewed. In the closed condition produced bythe folding operation, these operation section side 26 and displaysection side 28 are mutually closed into a compact form, thus becomingisolated from outside.

[0130] In the vicinity of swing axis section 27, there is provided adetection mechanism 33 as a detection means for detecting the opencondition or the close condition of portable telephone 20. Thisdetection mechanism 33 is constituted of a depression section 31protruded from the display section side 28 of the body surface, and adepression switch 34 (refer to FIG. 26) disposed in a concave 32 formedon the operation section side 26 of the body surface, in which theswitch is closed because of the pressure from depression section 31.

[0131]FIG. 26 shows a diagram illustrating the detection mechanism fordetecting the open condition and the close condition of portabletelephone 20. As shown in this figure, a switch pad 342 is disposedinside a rib 341 provided on the rear face of the body, so that switchpad 342 can travel in a vertical direction and is resiliently pressed inan upward direction by a non-illustrated spring (either a coil spring ora flat spring). By depressing this switch pad 342 downward against aresilient force of the spring, a predetermined terminal member 344disposed on the base portion of concave 32 contacts to the ground 345.By use of the aforementioned mechanism, an electric potential ofterminal member 344 enables to detect the open and close conditions.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 25(b), on the rear face of main display unit 21,a rear face key 22 provided as an operation button is disposed in aposition close to a subordinate display unit (sub-LCD) 23.

[0133] Rear face key 22 is controlled so as to light on or blink. Rearface key 22 is for use in displaying a variety of operation conditions,switching the displays on subordinate display unit (subordinate displaysection) 23., and so on. In addition, by continuously depressing thisrear face key 22 for a predetermined time, it may be possible to checkan arrival of a new mail against a mail server, and, when existent,download the new mail.

[0134] Subordinate display unit 23 is for use in displaying a variety ofconditions and information initiated by an operation of rear face key22. For example, date and time, mail arrival information, URL list, andarrival voice call information are displayed alternatively.

[0135] For example, the display sections are configured with thespecifications that the main display unit can display 10 lines with 10characters per line, and the subordinate display unit can display 6characters per line in a full-size character format.

[0136]FIG. 27 shows a block diagram which schematically illustrates anexemplary hardware configuration of portable telephone 20. AS shown inthis FIG. 27, portable telephone 20 is constituted of a wirelesstransceiver 2 having an antenna 1, a baseband processor 3, an inputoperation section 5 for inputting a telephone number or informationthrough key operation of the user, a memory 6 having a registrationsection 6 a and a history section 6 b, a display section 7, asubordinate display unit 23 and a rear face illuminator 8, which arerespectively connected to a controller 4. Further, there are provided aspeaker 10 and a microphone 11, each connected to controller 4 throughan interface (IF) 9.

[0137] Controller 4 is constituted of a microprocessor unit (MPU), orthe like, which executes operation control of this unit according to aprogram.

[0138] Input operation section 5 includes rear face key 22, in additionto a variety of keys provided on main operation section 25.

[0139] Display controller 7 is connected to main display unit (main LCD)21 and subordinate display unit 23 and performs display control againstthe respective display units 21 and 23.

[0140] In memory 6, there are stored programs which control operation ofthis terminal device including data communication. A program executingthe processing of the present invention is also stored in memory 6.

[0141] In a registration section 6 a of memory 6, there are registered atelephone directory data which includes a personal name, reading, atelephone number, an electronic mail address, a resident address, etc.;a URL list; mail data in the electronic mail function including areceived mail and a created mail; a voice message; a downloadedapplication program; and a variety of setting information in theportable telephone; etc.

[0142] In history section 6 b of memory 6, history information isstored, which includes a voice call origination history and a voice calltermination history.

[0143] A variety of exemplary processing performed in the foldableportable telephone in response to the opening operation thereof will bedescribed hereafter.

[0144] [An Example of Accessing a Web Page]

[0145] In the following, there is explained an example in which a URLlist is displayed on the subordinate display unit, when a desired URL isdisplayed, the URL is accessed and the Web page is obtained by openingthe portable telephone, and the obtained Web page is displayed on themain display unit.

[0146] The portable telephone retains a URL list (which is also referredto as a bookmark). As shown in the following, this URL list includes thenumber of registration items, and corresponding information of titlesand URLs, in which each item is registered as one record. In addition,among the records registered in the URL list, one selected record isdesignated as an object record.

[0147] [An Example of URL List Data Structure (In Case of 5 RegistrationItems)]

[0148] 5

[0149] Mr. AB's page http://www.ab.com/

[0150] Mr. CD's page http://www.cd.com/

[0151] :

[0152] The information in this list may be input directly by a user, orit may also be possible for the user to register the URL of a Web pagewhich is currently seen together with the title (identificationinformation) of the page by performing a predetermined operation duringbrowsing. In the registration operation performed during browsing Webpages, a description depicted in a <TITLE> tag in the HTML source codesof the Web page is registered as a title in this URL list.

[0153] Also, it is possible for the user to edit the registrationinformation after the above-mentioned input or registration isperformed.

[0154]FIG. 28 shows a first processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.When the portable telephone detects an operation (depression) of a rearface key 22 (hereinafter referred to as button) by the user (S100), theportable telephone obtains the number of registration items by accessingthe URL list (S101). When the number of registration items is nil,subordinate display unit 23 is restored to the initial condition beforethe button operation (S109), and the process is terminated. When thenumber of registration items is one or more, the title and URL in theobject record of the URL list are obtained, and the obtained title andURL are displayed on subordinate display unit 23 (S102).

[0155]FIG. 29 shows display examples of title (a), and URL (b), of theobject record, which are displayed on subordinate display unit 23. Aswill be described later, the display contents are changed in accordancewith changing the object record by the button operation. Here, in FIG.29(b), the protocol descriptions (http://) are omitted in the displaycontents.

[0156] Referring back to FIG. 28, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S104) within a predetermined time after the displayof the title or the URL (S103), a browser program is activated based onthe display of the URL list, and a Web page is obtained by accessing theobtained URL (S105). The obtained Web page is displayed on main displayunit 21 (S106).

[0157]FIG. 30 shows a display example of the web page displayed on maindisplay unit 21. In this FIG. 30, there is shown a display example whenthe open motion of the portable telephone is performed while either ‘Mr.AB's page’ or ‘www.ab.com’ is displayed on subordinate display unit 23.

[0158] Meanwhile, on detection of the button operation within thepredetermined time after the aforementioned display of the title or theURL (S107), the next record to the current object record in the URL listis newly set as an object record (S108), and the process returns to thestep S102. If the current object record is the final record, then thetop record is set as the object record. Further, when no user operationhas been detected in the predetermined time after the display of theabove-mentioned title or the URL, this process is terminated.

[0159] In the examples described above, the title and the correspondingURL are obtained at a time. However, it may also be possible to obtainthe corresponding URL when the title is determined.

[0160] Also, in the processing concerned, when either the complete titleor URL is too long to display at a time, it is possible to display theinformation with scrolling by shifting the display information for apredetermined number of dots at predetermined intervals.

[0161] Moreover, the data structure of the URL list, as well as theprocessing contents, is not limited to the above-mentioned examples. Forexample, it is possible to configure with a data structure having noregistration item information. It is also possible to configure theprocessing in such a way that, the records are successively read out inresponse to a user's button operation, and when there becomes no recordto be read out, the top record is read out.

[0162] Also, in place of the URL list, Web page information of theindividuals can be displayed on the subordinate display unit when thisWeb page information is included in a telephone directory data.

[0163] By applying such configurations, it becomes possible to access adesired Web page promptly with simple operations.

[0164] [Example of Electronic Mail Function (at the Time ofTransmission)]

[0165] Next, there will be described an example of displaying addresseeinformation on subordinate display unit 23, and displaying a screen forcreating a mail to be sent to the addressee of interest on main displayunit 21, by making the portable telephone into an open condition whenthe displayed addressee information comes to a desired addresseeinformation.

[0166] The portable telephone is provided with an electronic mailtransmission/reception function by a data communication means. Further,as mentioned earlier, the portable telephone retains the telephonedirectory data which includes personal name, telephone number, mailaddress, and resident address. This telephone directory data isconstituted of the information containing each corresponding directoryitem in each record, and the information of the number of registrationitems.

[0167] [A Configuration Example of the Telephone Directory Data (in Caseof 100 Registration Items)]

[0168] 100

[0169] Ogawa ogawa 0443701234 ogawa@pc.com 1234, Nakahara-ward,Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa-prefecture.

[0170] Tanaka tanaka 0443702345 tanaka@pc.com 2345, Nakahara-ward,Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa-prefecture.

[0171] This telephone directory data may be input directly by the user,or created easily by use of a telephone number of an opposite partyinformed in a terminating call from the opposite party, or by use of anelectronic mail address of an opposite party included in a receivedmail.

[0172]FIG. 31 shows a second processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.When the portable telephone detects a button operation (depression) bythe user (S200), the portable telephone identifies whether or not theregistration exists by accessing the telephone directory data (S201).When the number of registration items is nil, subordinate display unit23 is restored to the initial condition before the button operation(S209), and the process is terminated. When the number of registrationitems is one or more, a personal name and a mail address in the objectrecord-of the telephone directory data are obtained, and the obtainedname (identification information) or mail address are displayed onsubordinate display unit 23 (S202). Or, it may be possible to obtain atelephone number (identification information) in the object record andthe corresponding mail address.

[0173]FIG. 32 shows display examples of name (a) or mail address (b) ofthe object record, which are displayed on subordinate display unit 23.The display contents are changed in accordance with the change of theobject record by the button operation. In addition, FIG. 32(c) shows adisplay example of a telephone number in the object record.

[0174] Referring back to FIG. 31, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S204) within a predetermined time after the displayof the name or the mail address (S203), an electronic mail generationfunction is activated based on the display of the telephone directorydata (S205), and a page for creating a mail is displayed on main displayunit 21 (S206).

[0175]FIG. 33 shows a display example of the mail creation page on maindisplay unit 21. In this FIG. 33, there is shown a display example whenthe open motion of the portable telephone is performed while the name‘Ogawa’, the corresponding mail address ‘ogawa@pc.com’, or the telephonenumber ‘0443701234’ is displayed on subordinate display unit 23.

[0176] In the processing examples described above, the name and thecorresponding mail address are displayed at a time. However, it may alsobe possible to read out only the mail address from the telephonedirectory data, and display the mail address concerned to thesubordinate display unit.

[0177] Moreover, it is possible to read out the telephone number and themail address from the telephone directory data, display the telephonenumber on the subordinate display unit, and apply the corresponding mailaddress as an addressee when the telephone number is identified.

[0178] Further, in the aforementioned examples, the entire data havingbeen registered in the telephone directory data are used as the objectsof the processing. However, it may also be possible to use recordshaving a particular flag in the telephone data, or records belonging toa particular group in case the telephone directory data is managed on agroup-by-group basis, as the objects of the above-mentioned processing.

[0179] In the processing steps S207, S208 and S209 shown in FIG. 31, theprocessing steps S307, S308 and S309 in FIG. 34, the processing stepsS407, S408 and S409 in FIG. 37, the processing steps S507, S508 and S509in FIG. 40, the processing steps S607, S608 and S609 in FIG. 41, theprocessing steps S707, S708 and S709 in FIG. 42, the processing stepsS807, S808 and S809 in FIG. 45, the processing steps S907, S908 and S909in FIG. 48, and the processing steps S1007, S1008 and S1009 in FIG. 51are respectively similar to the above-mentioned steps S107, S108 andS109 shown in FIG. 28. Therefore the description on these processingsteps is omitted in the following.

[0180] [Example of Electronic Mail Function (at the Time of Reception)]

[0181] Hereafter, there will be described an example in whichinformation related to the reception mail is displayed on thesubordinate display unit, and when the display of the reception mailcomes to a desired reception mail information, the detail information ofthe reception mail of interest is displayed on the main display unit.

[0182] The portable telephone is provided with an electronic mailtransmission/reception function by a data communication means. Further,as mentioned above, the portable telephone retains the telephonedirectory data which includes personal name, telephone number, mailaddress. This telephone directory data is constituted of the informationcontaining each corresponding directory item in each record. (Anexemplary data structure of the telephone directory data is the same asthat mentioned above.)

[0183]FIG. 34 shows a third processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Ondetection of a button operation (depression) by the user (S300), theportable telephone accesses a mail server and identifies whether or nota new mail has arrived (S301). When there is no new arrival mail,subordinate display unit 23 is restored to the initial condition beforethe button operation (S309), and the processing is terminated. Whenthere is a new arrival mail(s) preserved in the server, the number ofthe arrival mail(s) is obtained, and the mail(s) concerned isdownloaded. Among the downloaded mails, a sender's name of one selectedmail (which is referred to as an object mail) is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23 (S302). (The sender's name is usuallydescribed in ‘From . . . ’ of the header information of the electronicmail, together with a mail address.) Here, initially, an arrival mailhaving an earliest reception date/time is determined as the object mail.

[0184]FIG. 35 shows a display example of the object mail including thesender's name (a), etc. on subordinate display unit 23. It is alsopossible to display mail address (b), title (c), a part of the text (d),and the telephone number, with regard to the object mail. The sender'sname, the title, the part of the text, the telephone number alsoconsists the identification information corresponding to the mailaddress.

[0185] On detection of an open motion of the portable telephone (S304)within a predetermined time after the display of the sender's name(S303), a reception electronic mail display function is activated(S305), and the detailed information (text) of the object mail, thesender's name of which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23, isdisplayed on main display unit 21 (S306).

[0186]FIG. 36 shows a display example of the reception mail displayscreen on main display unit 21. In this FIG. 36, there is shown thedisplay example when the open motion of the portable telephone isperformed while any one of the following information is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23: ‘Ogawa’ (FIG. 35(a)), ‘ogawa@pc.com’ (FIG.35(b)), ‘important’ (FIG. 35(c)), ‘To Mr. Sato’ (FIG. 35(d)), or‘0443701234’ (FIG. 35(e)).

[0187] When a button operation is detected within a predetermined timeafter the aforementioned display of the sender's name, or the like, anew reception mail having the latest reception date/time but one isdetermined as an object mail, and the process returns to theaforementioned step S303. Here, when the current object mail is thereception mail having the latest reception date/time, the reception mailhaving the earliest reception date/time is determined as an object mail.

[0188] Meanwhile, when no operation by the user is detected within thepredetermined time after the aforementioned display of the sender's nameor the like, the process is terminated.

[0189] In the above-mentioned processing example, the sender's namedescribed in the reception mail is displayed on subordinate display unit23. However, it may also be possible to search the telephone directorydata by use of the mail address in the reception mail, and display apersonal name corresponding to the mail address. The mail address may beobtained from ‘From . . . ’ which is included in the header informationof the reception mail.

[0190] Further, it is also possible to display the mail address of thereception mail, instead of the sender's name (FIG. 35(b)). This enablesto cope with a case that the sender's name is not described in the ‘From. . . ’ of the reception mail.

[0191] Also, it is possible to display the title of the reception mailon the subordinate display unit (FIG. 35(c)). The title may be obtainedfrom ‘Subject’, which is included in the header information of thereception mail. Or, it may also be possible to display the text of thereception mail on the subordinate display unit. The text can be obtainedfrom the parts after the line having only a new line code following theheader information of the reception mail. Further, it is also possibleto search the telephone directory data by use of the mail address of thereception mail and display the telephone number corresponding to themail address concerned (FIG. 35(e)). The method for obtaining the mailaddress is the same as the aforementioned method.

[0192] [Example of Telephone Function]

[0193] Hereafter, there will be described an example of displayinginformation related to the telephone on the subordinate display unit,and when desired information is displayed, either displaying thedetailed information of the information of interest on the main displayunit, or executing a function designated by the information of interest,by opening the portable telephone. The telephone directory datastructure is the same as that described above.

[0194] A) An example of displaying a personal name in the telephonedirectory on the subordinate display unit, and originating a callinitiated by making the portable telephone open when a desired name isdisplayed, using the telephone number corresponding to the desired name:

[0195]FIG. 37 shows a fourth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.When the portable telephone detects a button operation (depression) bythe user (S400), the portable telephone identifies whether or not theregistration exists by accessing the telephone directory data (S401).When the number of registration items is nil, subordinate display unit23 is restored to the initial condition before the button operation(S409), and the process is terminated. When the number of registrationitems is one or more, a personal name (identification information) inthe object record of the telephone directory data is obtained, and theobtained name is displayed on subordinate display unit 23 (S402).

[0196]FIG. 38 shows a display example of the personal or the objectrecord, which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23. The displaycontents are changed in accordance with the change of the object recordby a button operation.

[0197] Referring back to FIG. 37, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S404) within a predetermined time after the displayof the name (S403), a telephone number corresponding to the name ondisplay is obtained from the telephone directory data, and a call isoriginated by use of the telephone number concerned (S405). At thistime, preferably, the terminating telephone number and a currentprocessing condition (call origination condition) is displayed on maindisplay unit 21 (S406).

[0198]FIG. 39 shows a display example displayed on main display unit 21.In this FIG. 39, there is shown a display example when the open motionof the portable telephone is performed while ‘Ogawa’ is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23.

[0199] Meanwhile, on detection of the button operation within thepredetermined time after the aforementioned display of the name (S407),the next record in the telephone directory data to the current objectrecord is newly set as an object record (S408), and the process returnsto the step S402. If the current object record is the final record, thenthe top record is set as the object record. Further, when no useroperation has been detected within the predetermined time after theaforementioned display of the name, this process is terminated.

[0200] In the example described above, the name is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23. However, it is also possible to read outthe reading from the telephone directory data, and display the readingon subordinate display unit 23. Also, it is possible to read out othertelephone directory data such as a telephone number and a mail address,and display the readout data on subordinate display unit 23. When thetelephone number is read out from the telephone directory data anddisplay the telephone number on subordinate display unit 23, it is notnecessary, in the aforementioned processing of S405, to access thetelephone directory data again to obtain the telephone number.

[0201] Further, in the above-mentioned processing example, whendisplaying on subordinate display unit 23, if other item data than thetelephone number is to obtain, only the item data concerned is obtained.However, it is possible to obtain the telephone number corresponding tothe item data of interest, and originate a call by use of the obtainedtelephone number when the portable telephone is opened.

[0202] B) An example of displaying information related to callorigination history on the subordinate display unit, and originating acall initiated by making the portable telephone open when a desiredopposite party is displayed, using the telephone number corresponding tothe opposite party of interest:

[0203] The portable telephone is provided with a function of retainingcall origination history with respect to originated calls. This callorigination history is constituted of the number of history items andcall origination histories in which each record contains one historydata. This history information includes a telephone number, thecorresponding personal name stored in the telephone directory data, andthe corresponding originating date/time information of the call. Here,in case of call origination initiated by direct input of the telephonenumber by the user, instead of call origination by use of the telephonedirectory data, name information in the telephone directory data is notrecorded as history information.

[0204] [An Exemplary Data Structure of the Call Origination History (inCase of 5 History Items)] 5 0443701234 Ogawa 200108101038 0443702345Tanaka 200108110850 0443703456 200108111321 :

[0205]FIG. 40 shows a fifth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.When the portable telephone detects a button operation (depression) bythe user (S500), the portable telephone identifies whether or not thecall origination history exists by accessing the call originationhistory data (S501). When the number of history items is nil,subordinate display unit 23 is restored to the initial condition beforethe button operation (S509), and the process is terminated. When thenumber of history items is one or more, a personal name in the objectrecord of the call origination history data is obtained, and theobtained name is displayed on subordinate display unit 23 (S502). Adisplay example of the name in the object record is the same as thedisplay example shown in FIG. 37. When there is no name recorded in theobject record of the call origination history data, a correspondingtelephone number is displayed. In addition, initially, the top record isused as the object record.

[0206] On detection of an open motion of the portable telephone (S504)within a predetermined time after the display of the name (S503), atelephone number corresponding to the name on display is obtained fromthe call origination history data, and a call is originated by use ofthe telephone number concerned (S505). When the telephone number, notthe name, is displayed on subordinate display unit 23, the call isoriginated by use of the telephone number without accessing the callorigination history data again. Also, preferably, the terminatingtelephone number and the current processing condition (condition of theoriginating call) is displayed on main display unit 21 (S506). A displayexample displayed on main display unit 21 is the same as that shown inFIG. 39.

[0207] In the example described above, the name is obtained from thecall origination history data, so that the name is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23. Instead, it is possible to obtain thetelephone number, and display the obtained telephone number onsubordinate display unit 23. In such a case, in the aforementionedprocessing step S505, it is not necessary to access the call originationhistory data again to obtain the telephone number.

[0208] Further, in the above-mentioned processing example, whendisplaying the name on subordinate display unit 23, only the name ofinterest is obtained from the history information. However, it ispossible to obtain both the name and the telephone number correspondingto the name, and originate a call by use of the obtained telephonenumber when the portable telephone is opened.

[0209] Also, when the name is not recorded as the history information,it is possible to search the telephone directory data by use of thetelephone number in the call origination history data, and obtain thecorresponding name from the telephone directory data so that the name isdisplayed on subordinate display 23. Further, in case that the call isoriginated by use of a telephone number directly input from the user, itis possible to search the telephone directory data using this telephonenumber, and record the corresponding name to the call originationhistory data after the name is obtained from the telephone directorydata.

[0210] C) An example of originating a call by use of a call terminationhistory:

[0211] The portable telephone is provided with a function of retainingcall termination history with respect to terminated calls. This calltermination history is constituted of the number of history items andcall termination histories in which each record contains one historydata. This history information includes a telephone number which isinformed when the call is terminated, the corresponding personal namestored in the telephone directory data, and the correspondingterminating date/time information of the call. Here, in case thetelephone number informed at the termination of the call is notregistered in the telephone directory data, name information in thetelephone directory data is not recorded as history information.

[0212] [An Exemplary Data Structure of the Call Termination History (inCase of 5 History Items)] 5 0443701234 Ogawa 200108101038 0443702345Tanaka 200108110850 0443703456 200108111321 :

[0213]FIG. 41 shows a sixth processing flowchart in the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.When the portable telephone detects a button operation (depression) bythe user (S600), the portable telephone identifies whether or not thecall termination history exists by accessing the call terminationhistory data (S601). When the number of history items is nil,subordinate display unit 23 is restored to the initial condition beforethe button operation (S609), and the process is terminated. When thenumber of history items is one or more, a personal name in the objectrecord of the call termination history data is obtained, and theobtained name is displayed on subordinate display unit 23 (S602). Adisplay example of the name in the object record is the same as thedisplay example shown in FIG. 37. When there is no name recorded in theobject record of the call termination history data, a correspondingtelephone number is displayed. In addition, initially, the top record isused as the object record.

[0214] On detection of an open motion of the portable telephone (S604)within a predetermined time after the display of the name (S603), atelephone number corresponding to the name on display is obtained fromthe call termination history data, and a call is originated by use ofthe telephone number concerned (S605). When the telephone number, notthe name, is displayed on subordinate display unit 23, the call isoriginated by use of the telephone number without accessing the calltermination history data again. Also, preferably, the terminatingtelephone number and the current processing condition (condition of theoriginating call) is displayed on main display unit 21 (S606). A displayexample displayed on main display unit 21 is the same as that shown inFIG. 39.

[0215] In the example described above, the name is obtained from thecall termination history data, so that the name is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23. Instead, it is possible to obtain thetelephone number, and display the obtained telephone number onsubordinate display unit 23. In such a case, in the aforementionedprocessing step S605, it is not necessary to access the call terminationhistory data again to obtain the telephone number.

[0216] Further, in the above-mentioned processing example, whendisplaying the name on subordinate display unit 23, only the name ofinterest is obtained from the history information. However, it ispossible to obtain both the name and the telephone number correspondingto the name, and originate a call by use of the obtained telephonenumber when the portable telephone is opened.

[0217] D) An example of displaying on the subordinate display unit theinformation related to a voice message recorded at the time of anincoming call in absence, and regenerating the voice message recorded bythe opposite party by opening the portable telephone when the oppositeparty concerned is selected as a desired party:

[0218] The portable telephone has a function of recording a message fromthe calling party as a voice message when no response is given to thetelephone call (no answer) within a predetermined number of ringingsignals from the calling party (or a predetermined time). This functionis the same as an automatic answering machine provided in an ordinarytelephone.

[0219] This voice message data is constituted of the number of messageitems and message data of which each record has one message. Thismessage data includes a telephone number informed at the time ofreceiving a call and a corresponding name in the telephone directorydata, call reception date/time, and corresponding information of voicedata of the message. Here, when the telephone number informed at thetime of receiving the call has not been registered, the name informationin the telephone directory data is not recorded as a message data. Sucha name or receiving date/time is identification information of the voicedata.

[0220] [A Configuration Example of the Voice Message (in Case of 5Message Items)] 5 0443701234 Ogawa 200108101038 Hello! . . . 0443702345Tanaka 200108110850 How have you been since I met you before? . . .0443703456 200108111321 Hello! This is the first time I call you . . . :

[0221]FIG. 42 is a seventh processing flowchart of the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Ondetection of a user's button operation (depression) (S701), the portabletelephone verities whether or not there is any message by accessing thevoice message data (S701). When the number of the message items is nil,the subordinate display unit 23 is restored to the initial conditionbefore the button operation (S709), and the process is terminated. Whenthe number of message items is one or more, the name in the objectrecord in the voice message data is obtained, and this obtained name isdisplayed on subordinate display unit 23 (S702).

[0222]FIG. 43 shows a display example of the name in the object record,which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23. As the object recordis changed by the button operation, the display contents are changed.When the name is not recorded in the object record of the voice messagedata, the corresponding telephone number is displayed. In addition,initially, the top record is used as the object record.

[0223] Referring back to FIG. 42, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S704) within a predetermined time after the displayof the name (S703), the voice data corresponding to the displayed nameis obtained from the voice message data, and the voice data concerned isregenerated (S705). At this time, preferably, the name corresponding tothe regenerated voice data and the current processing condition (inregeneration) is displayed on main display unit 21 (S706).

[0224]FIG. 44 shows a display example of main display unit 21. In FIG.44, there is shown a display example when the open motion of theportable telephone is performed while ‘Ogawa’ is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23.

[0225] In the above-mentioned processing example, the name is obtainedfrom the voice message data so that the name is displayed on subordinatedisplay unit 23. Instead, it is also possible to obtain the telephonenumber and display on subordinate display unit 23.

[0226] Also, in the above-mentioned processing example, when displayingthe name on subordinate display unit 23, only the name is obtained fromthe message data. However, it is possible to obtain corresponding voicedata together with the name, and regenerate the voice data when theportable telephone is opened.

[0227] Further, when the voice data is regenerated, it is also possiblenot to display any information on main display unit 21 in thisprocessing, instead of displaying information as described above.

[0228] E) An example of displaying a part of information (for example, aname) of the telephone directory data on the subordinate display unit,and when desired information is displayed, displaying the telephonedirectory data corresponding to the desired information on the maindisplay by opening the portable telephone:

[0229] The telephone directory data has the same data structure asmentioned earlier.

[0230]FIG. 45 is a eighth processing flowchart of the portable telephonein accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. On detectionof the button operation (depression) by the user (S800), the portabletelephone accesses the telephone directory data and verifies whether ornot there has been any registration (S801). When the number ofregistration is nil, subordinate display unit 23 is restored to theinitial condition before the button operation (S809), and the process isterminated. When the number of registration items is one or more, a name(identification information) in the object record of the telephonedirectory data is obtained, and the obtained name is displayed onsubordinate display unit 23 (S802).

[0231]FIG. 46 shows a display example of the name in the object record,which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23. The display contentsare changed in accordance with the change of the object record initiatedby the button operation. In addition, initially, the top record is usedas the object record.

[0232] Referring back to FIG. 45, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S804) within a predetermined time after the name isdisplayed (S803), the telephone directory data display function isinitiated, and the telephone directory data corresponding to the name isobtained. The obtained telephone directory data is then displayed onmain display unit 21 (S805).

[0233]FIG. 47 is a display example displayed on main display unit 21. InFIG. 47, there is shown a display example when the portable telephone isopened while ‘Ogawa’ is displayed on subordinate display unit 23.

[0234] In the above-mentioned processing example, the name is displayedon the subordinate display unit. However, it is also possible to readout reading information from the telephone directory data and displaythis information on the subordinate display unit. Further, it is alsopossible to read out other telephone directory data such as a telephonenumber and a mail address, and display such readout information on thesubordinate display unit.

[0235] Also, in the above-mentioned processing example, only one itemdata in one record of the telephone directory data is obtained whendisplaying on the subordinate display unit. However, it is also possibleto obtain the entire item data in one record and display the entire itemdata when the portable telephone is opened.

[0236] F) An example of displaying menu items in an incorporated menu onthe subordinate display unit, and when a desired item is displayed, afunction of the menu item concerned is executed by opening the portabletelephone:

[0237] The portable telephone is capable of executing a plurality offunctions, and provides an incorporated menu consisting of menu itemseach corresponding to each function, so as to initiate each function.This incorporated menu data has records each corresponding to onefunction, constituted of a menu item name and information correspondingto a program to be-activated.

[0238] [An Exemplary Data Structure of the Menu Data]

[0239] Clock setting Program 1

[0240] Setting for call reception Program 2

[0241] :

[0242]FIG. 48 shows a ninth processing flowchart of the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Ondetection of the button operation (depression) by the user (S900), theportable telephone accesses the menu data and obtains a menu item name(identification information) of the object record, and displays theobtained menu item name to subordinate display unit 23 (S902).

[0243]FIG. 49 shows a display example of the menu item name of theobject record, which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23. Whenthe object record is changed by the button operation, the displaycontents are changed. In addition, initially, the top record is used asthe object record.

[0244] Referring back to FIG. 48, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S904) within a predetermined time after the menuitem name is displayed (S903), a program corresponding to the menu itemname displayed on subordinate display unit 23 is activated (S905). Whenthe activated program includes processing which displays predeterminedinformation, the predetermined information of interest is displayed onmain display unit 21 (S906). When the open motion is not detected withinthe predetermined time, subordinate display unit 23 is restored to theinitial condition before the button operation (S909), and the processingis terminated.

[0245]FIG. 50 shows a display example which is displayed on main displayunit 21. FIG. 50 shows a display example when the portable telephone isopened while ‘Clock setting’ is displayed on subordinate display unit23.

[0246] G) An example of displaying information representing a retainedapplication program on the subordinate display unit, and the applicationprogram displayed by the information concerned is activated by openingthe portable telephone when desired information is displayed:

[0247] The portable telephone is provided with a function of downloadingan application program which is executable in the portable telephonefrom a Web page by means of data communication, and reserving thedownloaded application program, and activating and executing thedownloaded application program. This application program is not onlydownloaded from a Web page, but may also be received through anelectronic mail, or reserved in advance in the portable telephone.

[0248] A management data of this application program is constituted ofthe number of application program items, a name (identificationinformation) of each application program, and corresponding informationof reservation location information (address) of the program concerned.

[0249] One item constitutes one record.

[0250] [An Exemplary Data Structure of the Application ProgramManagement Data (5 Reserved Items)] 5 calendar address1 scheduleaddress2 :

[0251]FIG. 51 shows a tenth processing flowchart of the portabletelephone in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Ondetection of the button operation (depression) by the user, the portabletelephone accesses the management data of the application program, andverifies whether or not any application program is reserved (S1001).When the number of registration items is nil, subordinate display unit23 is restored to the initial condition before the button operation(S1009), and the process is terminated. When the number of reservationitems is one or more, an application program name in the object recordof the management data is obtained, and the obtained name is displayedon subordinate display unit 23 (S1002).

[0252]FIG. 52 shows a display example of the name of the object record,which is displayed on subordinate display unit 23. When the objectrecord is changed by the button operation, the display contents are alsochanged. In addition, initially, the top record is used as the objectrecord.

[0253] Referring back to FIG. 51, on detection of the open motion of theportable telephone (S1004) within a predetermined time after the displayof the application program name (S1003), the reservation locationinformation (address) corresponding to the application program name isobtained from the management data, and the application program isactivated (S1005). At this time, preferably, the application programname to be activated and a current processing condition (in activation)is displayed on main display unit 21 (S1006).

[0254] In the above-mentioned example, the application program name andthe corresponding reservation location information are obtained atdifferent timing. However, it is also possible to obtain the applicationprogram name and the reservation location information at the sametiming, and activate the application program on detection of the openmotion of the portable telephone by use of the reservation locationinformation having been obtained.

[0255]FIG. 53 shows a display example displayed on main display unit 21.More specifically, FIG. 53 shows a display example when the portabletelephone is opened while the application program name ‘Calendar’ isdisplayed on subordinate display unit 23.

[0256] In each embodiment of the present invention described above, inwhich the portable telephone is taken as an example, when the displayinformation to be displayed on subordinate display unit 23 is too longto display at a time, it may be possible to display the information withscrolling by shifting the display information for a predetermined numberof dots at predetermined intervals.

[0257] Also, in the above description of the embodiments of the presentinvention taking the portable telephone as an example, there is provideda single operation button for operating subordinate display unit 23, sothat each function is performed individually. However, it is alsopossible to enable the user to select a desired function, so as to startthe aforementioned processing with regard to the selected function.

[0258] For example, on detection of the button operation (depression) bythe user, when the button operation time (depression time) continues fora predetermined time (in short, the user is depressing the operationbutton for a long time), the condition is shifted to a functionselection condition, and the function name is displayed on thesubordinate display unit. And on detection of the button operation(depression) within a predetermined time after the aforementioneddisplay of the function name, the next function name is selected as adisplay object and displayed on subordinate display unit 23. Here,initially, the display object is the first function name.

[0259] Otherwise, when the button operation (depression) is not detectedwithin the predetermined time after the aforementioned display of thefunction name, the function name currently displayed is regarded as aselected function name, and the execution of the corresponding functionis started. Namely, the processing of the selected function illustratedin the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention is executed.

[0260] In such a configuration, the first button operation (depression)by the user, which is illustrated in the embodiment of each function,becomes unnecessary. Also, it may be possible to shift to the functionselection condition when a simple button operation (depression) isdetected, instead of the operation button depressed for a long time asmentioned above.

[0261] Further, in the case of the portable telephone having twooperation buttons, any one of the operation buttons may be assigned as abutton for the function selection. In such a case, if the operation ofthe above-mentioned button is not performed within a predetermined timeafter the button is operated (depressed), the function corresponding tothe function name which is displayed at that time may be regarded asbeing selected by the user.

[0262] Instead, it may also be possible to regard that the user hasselected the function corresponding to the function name displayed atthat time when the operation of another button is detected.

[0263] Industrial Applicability

[0264] As the present invention has been described, in the terminal(device) according to the present invention, predetermined processing(for example, access processing to a URL registered in advance on anetwork) is automatically executed in response to the cancellationoperation of the power saving mode. This enables to executepredetermined processing (for example, accessing the predetermined URLon the network) only by the cancellation operation of the power savingmode without need of an extra operation for the processing. Thus,operability of the terminal is improved, and as a result, conveniencefor the user is improved.

[0265] Also, in a terminal (device) having a folding mechanism,predetermined processing is automatically executed in response to theopen motion from the closed condition. This enables to execute thepredetermined processing only by the open motion without need of anextra operation for the processing. Thus operability of the terminal isimproved, and as a result, convenience for the user is improved.

[0266] The foregoing description of the embodiments is not intended tolimit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. The scopeof the present invention runs to the inventions described in theappended claims and the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A terminal device having a power saving mode inwhich the terminal device works with less power consumption than in anormal mode, said terminal device comprising: a first display sectionthe display of which is turned off during the power saving mode andresumed when restored to the normal mode; a storage section which storesat least one URL on a network; a second display section which displayseither the URL stored in the storage section or identificationinformation corresponding to the URL at least during the power savingmode; and an access processing section which executes access processingagainst the URL, or a URL corresponding to the identificationinformation, displayed on the second display section in response to acancellation operation of the power saving mode.
 2. The terminal deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein, depending on a URL type, the accessprocessing section activates an application program necessary foraccessing the URL, and said application program makes access to the URL.3. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein, when the URL typeis a type designating a Web page address on the network, the accessprocessing section activates a browser program, and when the URL type isa type designating an electronic mail address, the access processingsection activates a mail program.
 4. The terminal device according toclaim 1, wherein the storage section stores a URL accessed last timebefore shifting to the power saving mode.
 5. The terminal deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the storage section stores an arbitraryURL according to an instruction by a user.
 6. The terminal deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein in the case the storage section stores aplurality of URLs, the terminal device further comprises: a firstoperation section for selecting a URL, or identification informationcorresponding to the URL, displayed on the second display section out ofthe plurality of URLs.
 7. The terminal device according to claim 1,wherein the first display section is mounted so as to be opened andclosed against a main body of the terminal device, and the seconddisplay section is disposed in a visible position when the first displaysection is placed in a closed condition.
 8. The terminal deviceaccording to claim 7, further comprising: a second operation section forcanceling the power saving mode, being disposed in an operable positionwhile the first display section is placed in the closed condition. 9.The terminal device according to claim 7, further comprising: a drivesection which enables to open the first display section being closed inthe power saving mode, in response to the cancellation operation of thepower saving mode.
 10. A device having a normal working state and astandby state, comprising: a display section which can displayinformation in the standby state; and a processing section whichperforms processing corresponding to the information being displayed onthe display section at the time of shifting from the standby state tothe normal working state.
 11. The device according to claim 10, furthercomprising: a main display section the display contents of which areplaced in a visible condition during the normal working state, or placedin an invisible condition during the standby state; and a detectionsection which detects an operation for shifting the display contents ofthe main display section from the invisible condition to the visiblecondition, wherein the display section is a subordinate display sectionthe display contents of which are placed in the visible condition evenwhen said main display section is placed in the invisible condition, andthe processing section performs processing corresponding to theinformation displayed on the subordinate display section at the time ofthe detected operation.
 12. The device according to claim 11, whereinthe normal working state is a normal working mode in which said maindisplay section is placed in a display condition, and the standby stateis a power saving mode in which said main display section is placed in anon-display condition and the device works with less power consumptionthan in the normal working mode, and the detection section detects ashift from the power saving mode to the normal working mode.
 13. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein a URL of a Web page is displayedon the subordinate display section, and when a state shift operation isdetected by the detection section, the processing section displays onthe main display section the Web page corresponding to the URL displayedon said subordinate display section.
 14. The device according to claim13 further comprising: a registration section in which the URL displayedon the subordinate display section can be registered by a user.
 15. Thedevice according to claim 13, wherein the URL displayed on thesubordinate display section is a URL of a Web page the update of whichis detected.
 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the URL is aURL of the Web page the update of which is detected by patrolling theregistered URL and determining an updated condition of each URL.
 17. Thedevice according to claim 10, wherein information related to voice datais displayed on the display section, and at the time of shifting fromthe standby state to the normal working state, based on the informationdisplayed on the display section, the processing section performsregeneration of the voice data corresponding to said information. 18.The device according to claim 10, wherein information related to anelectronic mail is displayed on the display section, and at the time ofshifting from the standby state to the normal working state, based onthe information displayed on the display section, the processing sectionperforms processing related to the electronic mail corresponding to saidinformation.
 19. The device according to claim 18, further comprising: amain display section the display contents of which are placed in avisible condition in the normal working state, or in an invisiblecondition in the standby state, wherein the display section is asubordinate display section the display contents of which are placed inthe visible condition even when said main display section is placed inthe invisible condition; and a detection section which detects anoperation for shifting the display contents of the main display sectionfrom the invisible condition to the visible condition, wherein, based onthe information displayed on the subordinate display section at the timeof the detected operation, the processing section performs processingrelated to the electronic mail corresponding to said information. 20.The device according to claim 19, wherein information related to anelectronic mail address is displayed on the subordinate display section,and when a state shift operation is detected by the detection section,the processing section displays on the main display section a screen forcreating an electronic mail addressed to the electronic mail addresscorresponding to the information displayed on the subordinate displaysection.
 21. The device according to claim 19, wherein informationrelated to a received electronic mail is displayed on the subordinatedisplay section, and when a state shift operation is detected by thedetection section, the processing section displays on the main displaysection the received mail information corresponding to the informationdisplayed on the subordinate display section.
 22. The device accordingto claim 10, wherein information related to a telephone number isdisplayed on the display section, and at the time of shifting from thestandby state to the normal working state, based on the informationrelated to the telephone number displayed on the display section, theprocessing section performs processing related to the correspondingtelephone number.
 23. The device according to claim 22, furthercomprising: a telephone directory data in which a user can register atelephone number, wherein information related to the telephone numberregistered in the telephone directory data is displayed on the displaysection, and the processing section originates a call by use of thetelephone number.
 24. The device according to claim 22, furthercomprising: history information related to a telephone number, which isconstituted of a call origination history and/or a call terminationhistory, wherein information related to the telephone number registeredin the history information is displayed on the display section, and theprocessing section originates a call by use of the telephone number. 25.The device according to claim 22, wherein information related to atelephone number of an originating party corresponding to a recordedvoice data is displayed on the display section, and the processingsection regenerates the voice data corresponding to the informationrelated to the telephone number.
 26. The device according to claim 10,wherein information related to an executable program is displayed on thedisplay section, and at the time of shifting from the standby state tothe normal working state, based on the information displayed on thedisplay section, the processing section executes the programcorresponding to said information.
 27. The device according to claim 22,further comprising: a main display section the display contents of whichare placed in a visible condition in the normal working state, or placedin an invisible condition in the standby state; and a detection sectionwhich detects an operation for shifting the display contents of the maindisplay section from the invisible condition to the visible condition,wherein the display section is a subordinate display section the displaycontents of which are placed in the visible condition even when saidmain display section is placed in the invisible condition, and based onthe information related to the telephone number displayed on thesubordinate display section at the time of the detected operation, theprocessing section performs processing related to the telephone numbercorresponding to said information.
 28. The device according to claim 27,further comprising: a telephone directory data in which a user canregister a telephone number, wherein information related to thetelephone number registered in the telephone directory data is displayedon the subordinate display section, and when a state shift operation isdetected by the detection section, the processing section displays onthe main display section the telephone directory data contentscorresponding to the information displayed on the subordinate displaysection, at least excluding the information displayed on the subordinatedisplay section.
 29. The device according to claim 11, furthercomprising: a folding mechanism by which the device can be opened andclosed, wherein the main display section is disposed in a position inwhich the display contents of the main display section are visible whenthe folding mechanism is placed in an open condition, while the displaycontents of the main display section are invisible when the foldingmechanism is placed in a closed condition, the display section is asubordinate display section disposed in a position in which the displaycontents of the subordinate display section are visible even when thefolding mechanism is placed in the closed condition, and the detectionsection detects an open motion of the folding mechanism from the closecondition.
 30. A program to be executed in a device having a normalworking state, a standby state and a display section, said programcomprising: displaying information on the display section during thestandby state; and at the time of shifting from the standby state to thenormal working state, performing processing corresponding to informationdisplayed on the display section.
 31. The program according to claim 30,wherein the device includes a main display section the display contentsof which are placed in a visible condition in the normal working state,or placed in an invisible condition in the standby state, the displaysection is a subordinate display section the display contents of whichare placed in the visible condition even when said main display sectionis placed in the invisible condition, and said program furthercomprises: detecting an operation for shifting the display contents ofthe main display section from the invisible condition to the visiblecondition; and performing processing corresponding to the informationdisplayed on the subordinate display section at the time of the detectedoperation.
 32. The program according to claim 31, wherein the normalworking state is a normal working mode in which said main displaysection is placed in a display condition, and the standby state is apower saving mode in which said main display section is placed in anon-display condition and the device works with less power consumptionthan in the normal working mode, and said program further comprises:detecting a shift operation from the power saving mode to the normalworking mode.
 33. The program according to claim 31, further comprising:displaying a URL of a Web page on the subordinate display section; andon detection of a state shift operation, performing processing so thatthe Web page corresponding to the URL displayed on said subordinatedisplay section is displayed on the main display section.
 34. Theprogram according to claim 33, wherein the URL displayed on thesubordinate display section is arbitrarily registered by a user.
 35. Theprogram according to claim 33, wherein the URL displayed on thesubordinate display section is a URL of a Web page the update of whichis detected.
 36. The program according to claim 33, further comprising:determining an updated condition of each URL by patrolling theregistered URL; and displaying on the subordinate display section theURL of the Web page the update of which is detected.
 37. The programaccording to claim 30, further comprising: displaying informationrelated to voice data on the display section; and at the time ofshifting from the standby state to the normal working state, based onthe information displayed on the display section, performingregeneration of the voice data corresponding to said information. 38.The program according to claim 30, comprising: displaying informationrelated to an electronic mail on the display section, and at the time ofshifting from the standby state to the normal working state, based onthe information displayed on the display section, performing processingrelated to the electronic mail corresponding to said information. 39.The program according to claim 38, wherein the device includes a maindisplay section the display contents of which are placed in a visiblecondition in the normal working state, or in an invisible condition inthe standby state, the display section is a subordinate display sectionthe display contents of which are placed in the visible condition evenwhen said main display section is placed in the invisible condition, andsaid program further comprises: detecting an operation for shifting thedisplay contents of the main display section from the invisiblecondition to the visible condition; and at the time of the detectedoperation, performing processing related to the electronic mailcorresponding to the information displayed on the subordinate displaysection.
 40. The program according to claim 39, further comprising:displaying information related to an electronic mail address on thesubordinate display section; and on detection of the state shiftoperation, displaying on the main display section a screen for creatingan electronic mail addressed to the electronic mail addresscorresponding to the information displayed on the subordinate displaysection.
 41. The program according to claim 39, further comprising:displaying information related to, a received electronic mail on thesubordinate display section, and on detection of the state shiftoperation, displaying on the main display section the received mailinformation corresponding to the information displayed on thesubordinate display section.
 42. The program according to claim 30,further comprising: displaying information related to a telephone numberon the display section, and at the time of shifting from the standbystate to the normal working state, based on the information related tothe telephone number displayed on the display section, performingprocessing related to the telephone number corresponding to saidinformation.
 43. The program according to claim 42, wherein the deviceincludes a telephone directory data in which a user can register atelephone number, and said program further comprises: displayinginformation related to the telephone number registered in the telephonedirectory data on the display section; and at the time of shifting fromthe standby state to the normal working state, based on the informationrelated to the telephone number displayed on the display section,originating a call by use of the telephone number corresponding to saidinformation.
 44. The program according to claim 42, further comprising:storing history information related to a telephone number constituted ofa call origination history and/or a call termination history; displayinginformation related to the telephone number registered in the historyinformation is displayed on the display section; and at the time ofshifting from the standby state to the normal working state, based onthe information related to the telephone number displayed on the displaysection, originating a call by use of the telephone number correspondingto said information.
 45. The program according to claim 42, furthercomprising: displaying, on the display section, information related to atelephone number of an originating party corresponding to a recordedvoice data; and at the time of shifting from the standby state to thenormal working state, based on the information related to the telephonenumber displayed on the display section, regenerating the voice datacorresponding to the information related to the telephone numbercorresponding to said information.
 46. The program according to claim30, further comprising: displaying information related to an executableprogram on the display section; and at the time of shifting from thestandby state to the normal working state, based on the informationdisplayed on the display section, executing a program corresponding tosaid information.
 47. The program according to claim 42, wherein thedevice includes a main display section the display contents of which areplaced in a visible condition in the normal working state, or in aninvisible condition in the standby state, the display section is asubordinate display section the display contents of which are placed inthe visible condition even when said main display section is placed inthe invisible condition, and said program further comprises: detectingan operation for shifting the display contents of the main displaysection from the invisible condition to the visible condition; and basedon the information related to the telephone number which is displayed onthe subordinate display section at the time of the detected operation,performing processing related to the telephone number corresponding tosaid information.
 48. The program according to claim 47, wherein thedevice includes a telephone directory data in which a user can registera telephone number, and said program further comprises: displayinginformation related to the telephone number registered in the telephonedirectory data on the subordinate display section; and on detection of astate shift operation, displaying on the main display section thetelephone directory data contents corresponding to the informationdisplayed on the subordinate display section, at least excluding theinformation displayed on the subordinate display section.
 49. Theprogram according to claim 31, wherein the device includes a foldingmechanism by which the device can be opened and closed, the main displaysection is disposed in a position in which the display contents of themain display section are visible when the folding mechanism is placed inan open condition, and the display contents of the main display sectionare invisible when the folding mechanism is placed in a closedcondition, and the display section is a subordinate display sectiondisposed in a position in which the display contents of the subordinatedisplay section are visible even when the folding mechanism is placed inthe closed condition, said program further comprising: detecting an openmotion of the folding mechanism from the closed condition as the shiftoperation.
 50. A recording medium in which a program to be executed in adevice having a normal working state, a standby state and a displaysection is stored, wherein said program comprises: displayinginformation on the display section during the standby state; and at thetime of shifting from the standby state to the normal working state,performing processing corresponding to information displayed on thedisplay section.